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A staff member from a Syrian organisation that Humanity and Inclusion (HI) partners with was killed yesterday. Mustafa, his wife and their two children – both under the age of 8 years old – were killed by shelling in Hamouriyeh, Eastern Ghouta. As today marks the 7th anniversary of the Syrian conflict, HI condemns once again bombing and shelling of populated areas and calls on all parties to the conflict to protect civilians.

On 8 March, International Women's Day, HI is calling attention to the fact that more than one in three women experience violence in their lifetime. And women with disabilities are particularly at risk. HI aims at preventing violence and providing women with psychological and medical support.

In 2017, Humanity & Inclusion (HI) made it possible to transport 8,590 tonnes of goods to some of the most isolated corners of Central African Republic, a country that has been devastated by decades of violence and instability.

The extreme escalation of bombardment in the besieged area of Eastern Ghouta in the past 72 hours has caused more than 200 civilian deaths and extensive damage to infrastructure—particularly hospitals, clinics, and shelters where civilians are taking refuge. 390,000 civilians are besieged under heavy shelling, airstrikes, and barrel bomb attacks in the enclave of Eastern Ghouta, with dwindling water, food, and medical supplies.

Following ongoing clashes in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, more than 10,000 people, mostly Congolese, have taken refuge in the south and southwest of Burundi since 24 January. HI is preparing to launch an emergency response in aid of these refugees.

Aicha, 10, lives in Guinea Bissau. Since HI has helped her to attend school, she has become a lively and joyful member of her local community. HI ensures that over 70,000 vulnerable children and children with disabilities can access their right to an education.

Following years of conflict in Sri Lanka, HI implemented a project with the support of the US Department of State to increase the involvement of women, especially women with disabilities, in the country’s reconciliation process.

HI has completed its demining operations in the Tshopo, Ituri, Bas-Uele and Haut-Uele provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), launched in January 2016. Over a two-year period, HI and its local partner, AFRILAM (Africa for Anti-Mine Action) cleared 34,520 m2 of land of mines, the equivalent of 5 football pitches, benefiting the 5,600 inhabitants in the region.

According to the latest report from the Association On Armed Violence(AOAV), 15,399 civilians were killed by explosive weapons during the first 11 months of 2017 - a 42% increase compared to the same period in 2016. This sharp rise is largely down to a massive increase in deadly airstrikes.

On 12 January 2010, an earthquake hit Haiti, killing over 200,000 people. Many more were injured. Moïse, 4 years old, had to have his left leg amputated. Thanks to the support of Handicap International (HI), he received a prosthesis and underwent rehabilitation. Supported by the organisation for the last eight years, Moïse is now fighting fit.

HI physiotherapist, Farhana, works in Kutupalong camp in Bangladesh, which has become one of the largest refugee settlements in the world. Ibrahim is one of more than 600,000 Rohingya refugees who fled when violence broke out in Myanmar in August 2017 and one of many who sustained life-changing injuries. Farhana shares her experience of meeting Ibrahim and the progress they have made.

On 3 November 2017, the armed forces took back control of the town of Deir Ezzor in Syria.[1] The fighting inside and surrounding the city lasted several months, creating numerous civilian victims and displacing over 300,000 people. Handicap International (HI) is gravely concerned about the situation in the field.